Bicycle.



. Patent o d Mar. 26; 19m. T. DENNIS.

BICYCLE.

(Application filed m 1, 1808..

ZSheatr-Sheet I.

- (No maul.)

ATTORNEY.

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(Application Mod July 1, 1898.).

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: TNYENTOB "ATTORNEY Tu: norms mus ca. movp Lmgagwumncvou. n. a

THOMAS L. DENNIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'N'o. 670,608, dated March26, 1901.

Application filed July 1, 1898. Serial No. 684,960- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS L. DENNIs,acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the countyof Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bicycles, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention, while relating to bicycles generally, has reference moreparticularly to that class thereof in which the power applied to thepedals is communicated to the rear or other wheel without interventionof sprocketwheels, its object being to provide a bicycle of this classwhich, while simple in construction and less liable to derangement ofparts ed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2,

a detail sectional plan thereof, taken on the line a; a; of Fig. 1, withthe spokes and rim of the rear wheel omitted; Fig. 3, a side elevationof one of the friction-clutches through which and appropriateconnections the power is transmitted from the pedals to the rear orother wheel; Fig. 4, a vertical section of one.

of these friction-clutches, taken axially of Fig. 3, but showing thesupporting-shaft, the ball-bearing cone, and collar to which one end ofthe clutch-returning spring is secured in elevation; Fig. 5, atransverse sectional elevation of such clutch, taken in the plane 1 y ofFig. 4; Fig. 6, a similar transverse sectional elevation of said clutch,taken in the plane 2 z of that figure; Fig. 7, a front elevation of thecross-bar on the brake, showing also the two pedalsin transversesection; and

'Fig. 8, a front elevation of the brake and cross-bar thereon, showingalso the two pedals in transverse section.

In all the figures like letters of reference are employed to designatecorresponding parts.

A indicates the frame, which is or may be of any ordinary or preferredconstruction and is provided with the usual saddle A for theaccommodation of the rider. As here shown, however, this frame isconstructed of a general diamond form and is composed of an upper maintube a, a lower main tube '00, a front frame-tube (2. hack forks a backstays a, and a center stay a which are suitably joined by brazing orotherwise to form the required structure, as is common to this form offrame as heretofore constructed. The lower main tube a and the centerstay 0. however, instead of being made as continuous tubes throughoutthe rear end of the former and the lower end of the latter arerespectively made as forks the cross-sections of whose respective bladesor tines d and 0. are

rectangular or otherwise, as may be desired.

In some cases these forked ends are made integral with their respectivetubes and in others they are made separate therefrom and secured theretoby brazing or otherwise. It is preferred, however, to make the fork ofthe center stay a integral therewith and to make the fork of the lowermain tube a as a separate part and afterward join it thereto by anappropriate connection. As thus constructed the free extremities of theblades or tines a of the lower main tube a and the forward ends of theback forks a are joined to the corresponding blades or tines 0!, of thecenter stay a by brazing or otherwise, with the blades or tines a of thecenter stay extending some distance downward below this point of union,whereby to form ears, as shown more clearly in Fig. l. The frame A,being thus constructed, receives between its back forks a and betweenits back stays a the rear wheel B, which is mounted upon a suitableshaft 1), that extends across from the rear end of one of the back forksa to the rear end of the other, with the ordinary ball-bearings,consisting of the balls b"and conical and other seats 19 and brespectively, preferably interposed between it and the interior of thewheelhub b arranged between the blades 0 of the front fork O, in whichposition it is mounted upon a suitable shaft 0, extending across fromthe lower end of one of these blades to the lower end of the other, andbetween which and the The front wheel 0 is in like manner interior ofthe hub of this wheel ball-bearings similar to those employed inconnection with the rear wheel B may be interposed, if desired. Thefront fork 0, being thus equipped with the wheel 0, is provided with theusual handle-bar stem 0 which extends up through the front frame-tube aand is provided at its upper end with a handle-bar c suitableballbearings being interposed between the handle-bar stem and theinterior of the front frame-tube, if desired, as is common to bicyclesordinarily constructed.

D D indicate the pedals, to which the power for effecting the propulsionof the bicycle is applied. These pedals are rotatively mounted at one oftheir ends upon shaft CZ, which is supported in the ears formed by theextension of the tines or blades a of the center stay a with the freeends of these pedals extending forward toward the front of the machine,with suitable ball-bearings interposed between them and such shaft, ifdesired. From these pedals the power applied thereto is communicated tothe rear or other convenient wheel through appropriate clutches arrangedin connection with the rear or other driven wheel. These clutches may beconstructed in various forms, it only being essential that whatevertheir form they be so engaged when their respective pedals are depressedas to cause a rotation of the rear or other driven wheel and sodisengaged when such pedals are raised as to allow of their resumingtheir normal positions. As shown in the drawings, however, each ofthesecl utches consists of a disk-like member a, which is looselymounted upon the shaft 1) at the end of the hub b so as to rotate freelythereon, and is provided in its inner face with a cylindrical recess 6for reception of a second member e, which is fitted loosely therein andis fixedly secured to the hub 11 of the rear Wheel B. As thus arrangedeach of these members e is connected with its respective pedal through aflexible connection E, which, extending upward from the free end of thelatter over a pulley f, is passed around the former one or more timesand the end thereof securely fastened thereto, whereby when itsrespective pedal D is depressed the flexible connection passing aroundthe said member will be drawn off therefrom and the same rotatedthereby. For returning this member 6, with its appropriate pedal D, toits original or normal position when the power is withdrawn from thelatter the spiral spring F is employed, which, arranged within a secondrecess a formed in the hub of the former and connected at one of itsends with the outer curvilinear walls of said recess, asat t', isconnected at the other, as at 2", with a collar formed upon or securedto the shaft Z2. With the parts constructed and arranged as thusexplained the rotation of the member a in the direction to propel thebicycle is effected by depressing the pedal and its rotation in theopposite direction accomplished when the erases propelling power isremoved by the spiral spring F.

For engaging the member 6 of each of the clutches with its cooperatingmember 6 when the appropriate pedal is depressed I make use of the balls72., which are arranged within short wedge-shaped pockets eithat areformed in the curvilinear walls of the recess 6 and severally extendcircumferentiallyarou nd the same for a short distance, with agraduallyincreasing depth from itsrear to its front end. By this means,as will be seen, when either of the pedals D is depressed and thecorresponding member 6 rotated in the direction of the arrow 1 in Fig. 5the balls h therein will be carried into the shallower portions of theirpockets, and jamming between the outer surfaces thereof and theperiphery of the member 6 will lock the two members together, therebycausing the latter to move with the former and COlIllllLlIllCtttlllg thepower applied to the pedals D to the hub of the rear wheel B. The powerhaving been removed from The particular pedal, its appropriate clutchmember 6, under the action of the spiral spring F, will be rotatedbackward in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 5, when the balls hwill be carried into the deeper portions of their respective pockets,the member 0 disengaged from the member 6 and returned to its normalposition, carrying with it its appropriate pedal, ready for the nextapplication of power, and so on, the movement of the pedal downwardlyserving to lock the members together and cause the rotation of the rearor other wheel, with the consequent propulsion of the bicycle and thereturn of the member 6, and through it its appropriate pedal, to theirnormal positions, ready for the next downward movement of the latterbeing effected by the spring F.

For excluding the dust and dirt from between the members 6 and e of theclutches the annular plates are made use of, one of which is secured tothe inner face of each of the members 6 by suitable screws 7t and,extending inward to the hub Z) of the rear wheel B, completely coversand envelops the space between the two members, as shown.

In the construction of the flexible connections E it has sometimes beenfound desirable to adopt the form of either a chain or a rope. It ispreferred, however, to construct them in the form of metal ribbons ofthe proper width and thickness to withstand the strain that may be putupon them, as thereby the maximum strength with the minimum bulk isattained, and the proper winding and unwinding of the same upon and fromthe memhere 6 of the clutches when the bicycle is in operation is moreeasily and satisfactorily accomplished.

For varying the amount of power communicated from the pedals D to therear or other driven wheel to suit it to the propulsion of the bicycleupon level planes or up hills or inclines the wheels fare severallymounted upon the frame H, which is capable of being slid back and forthupon the tines or blades a of the lower main tube a, whereby the saidpulleys'may be brought approximately over the free ends of the pedals Dor carried backward therefrom toward the shaft d, upon which the latterare pivoted. When arranged above the free ends of the pedals or in theposition shown by full lines in Fig. 1, these pulleys serve merely asidlers to communicate the powerapplied to the pedals therefrom to theirrespective clutches, and the power thus communicated is in no wiseincreased thereby. When, on the other hand, this frame H is arranged inthe position shown in dotted lines in said figure, then in addition toacting as idlers to communicate the power applied to the pedalstherefrom to their: respective clutches these pulleys also serve asstops, over which the flexible connections E are bent near thepedal-pivoting shaft d when the pedals are depressed, and such pedalsthereby caused to act in the manner of toggle-arms with agreatly-increased power upon the clutches, the degree of which increasedepending upon the location of such pulleys with respect to the shaft (1and the acuteness of the angles that are formed between the flexibleconnections'and their respective pedals. By this means, as will be seen,any power applied to the pedals may be communicated through the flexibleconnection to the clutches, either without being increased or with anincrease, as may be desired, by simply locating the pulleysfin theproper positions with respect to the pivots of the pedals, which may bedone by moving the frame along the tines or blades 0/ of the lower maintube 0/ in the required direction, the augmentation of the powercommunicated from the pedals increasing as the pulleys f approach thepivoting-shaft d.

For moving the frame H back and forth along the tines or blades of tocarry the pulleys f toward or away from the pedal-pivoting shaft d, asdesired or as an increase or dimi nution in the power required maydemand, a lever l is employed, which, pivoted to a suitable stand orhanger Z* on the upper main tube a, is connected at its lower end withthe said frame by a suitable connecting-rod l and is provided near itsupper end with a detent Z for engagement with a notched segment Zwhereby to hold it in any adjusted position. By this means the movementof the frame H along the tines or blades a is readily effected and thesame locked in any required position by simple devices that areconveniently located for the purposes. a

' With the parts above described is employed a brake L, which,constructed in the form of a lever and fulcrumed by a pivot between thelower ends of the ears formed by the extension of the tines or blades 0,below the pedals D and adapted to bear at one end against the rear Wheelwhen required, is provided at its other with a pivoted cross-harm. Thiscrossbar is made of sufficient length to permit of its ends extendingunder the pedals, with the under side of which they are in contact, andin order to permit of the proper movements of the pedalsin thepropulsion of the bicycle Without applying the brake this cross-bar isloosely pivoted to the end of the brake, whereby to be free to rockthereon. As thus arranged as the pedals are alternately depressed topropel the bicycle this cross-bar is rocked back and forth upon itspivot m, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 7, without in any wayaffecting the brake, which by a spring or gravity is held clear from thewheel B. When, however, it is desired to apply the brake,then both ofthe pedals D are depressed, as shown in Fig. 8, the result of which isto carry dbwn both ends of the crossbar at the same time, and therebyforce the brake against the wheel. The brake having been thus applied isremoved from contact with the wheel by the raising of one or both of thepedals, when the retracting-spring thereon or the gravity of the bearingportions of the brake carries it back therefrom;

From the foregoing it'will be seen that a bicycle is produced whichwhile extremely simple in construction and not liable to get out oforder permits of a variation in the power communicated from the pedalsto the rear or other wheels, whereby to adapt itto the requirements ofthe work to be performed, as well as of the employment of a brake thatis worked by the pedals and is at all times under the control of therider.

Although in the foregoing I have described the best means contemplatedby me for carrying my invention into practice I wish it distinctlyunderstood that I do not limit myself strictly thereto, as it is obviousthat I may modify the same in various ways without departing from thespirit thereof.

Having now described the invention and specified certain of the ways inwhich it is or may be carried into effect, what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is thefollowing:

1. The combination, with the frame of a bicycle, the rear wheel of suchvehicle, and the clutches arranged in connection with the latter, ofpedals jointed at one of their ends in such frame and extended forwardtoward the front of the machine, flexible connections fixedly attachedat one of their ends to the free ends of their respective pedals and atthe other ends connected with their appropriate clutches, and pulleysover which the flexible connections are passed on their way from thepedals to the clutches supported upon the frame above the pedals,whereby such pedals when depressed are caused to act as toggle-arms andtransmit a gradually-increasing power to theclutches, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, with the frame of a bicycle, the rear wheelof suchvehicle, clutches arranged in connection with the latter, and

pedals jointed at one of their ends in said frame and extended forwardtoward the front of the machine, of flexible connections fixedlyattached at one of their ends to the free ends of their respectivepedals and at the other ends connected with their appropriate clutches,pulleys over which these flexible connections are passed on their Wayfrom the pedals to the clutches supported upon the frame above thepedals, and devices by means of which these pulleys may be moved towardand away from the pivots upon which the m ta pedals are supported,whereby, in addition to the pedals being caused to act as toggle-armswhen depressed and transmit agradnallydm creasing power to the clutches,the amount of this power may be varied, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of May,1897.

THOMAS L. DENNIS. Witnesses:

HENRY CALVER, WM. H. APPLEJJON.

